FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Vancouver

Many festivals take place in Vancouver each year.
Here are the main ones:

1st January : New Years (national)

The Polar Bear Swim is THE new year's day event in Vancouver, organised on the beach of English Bay to bring in the new year.

January/February : Chinese New Year Festival (local)

Vancouver celebrates the Chinese New Year annually.
On the programme: Chinese New Year Parade, New Year's lunch, traditional dance and music, calligraphy workshops, meditation… And also one of the biggest Dragon Boat races in Canada!

February : Family Day (local)

‘Family Day' takes place the 3rd Monday of February each year.

24 May : Victoria Day (national)

Victoria Day celebrates Queen Victoria. This holiday is also recognised as marking the beginning of summer in Canada.

1st July : Canada Day (national)

Canada Day celebrates the union of 3 provinces marking the country's first step towards independence, obtained July 1st 1867. Parades, spectacles and fireworks are organised around the country.

September : Labour Day (national)

Labour Day is celebrated annually the 1st of September. Numerous festivals and activities are held on this occasion around Vancouver.

October : Thanksgiving (national)

Canadian Thanksgiving is held on the 2nd Monday of October. It is a family holiday to give thanks for the harvest and generally includes a feast of seasonal foods and a diversity of family oriented activities.

11 November : Remembrance Day (national)

Veterans Day or Remembrance Day celebrates the armistice, which put an end to WWI, but is also an occasion for observance of the sacrifices made in all wars.

25 December : Christmas (national)

Christmas is a very important holiday. From the beginning of December through till the New Year, all events turn around Christmas.

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CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Vancouver

Located between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver has one of the mildest and sunniest climates in Canada, in stark contrast with the cold everywhere east of the Rockies. Its clement temperatures, even in winter, rarely drop below 0 °C / 32 °F.

Month

Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)

Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)

Average Rains (MM)

Best Time to Travel

January

1 / 33.8

6 / 42.8

217 / 8.5

Not the best period to go

February

2 / 35.6

8 / 46.4

146 / 5.7

Not the best period to go

March

4 / 39.2

11 / 51.8

126 / 4.9

Not the best period to go

April

5 / 41

15 / 59

83 / 3.3

Not the best period to go

May

9 / 48.2

19 / 66.2

70 / 2.8

Not the best period to go

June

12 / 53.6

22 / 71.6

63 / 2.5

Good period to go

July

13 / 55.4

24 / 75.2

30 / 1.2

Good period to go

August

13 / 55.4

42 / 1.7

Good period to go

September

10 / 50

19 / 66.2

90 / 3.5

Not the best period to go

October

8 / 46.4

15 / 59

146 / 5.7

Not the best period to go

November

5 / 41

10 / 50

210 / 8.3

Not the best period to go

December

3 / 37.4

5 / 41

223 / 8.8

Not the best period to go

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VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Vancouver's international airport is located 13 kilometres from downtown.

3 terminals, with the Main Terminal housing the two main terminals (domestic and international)

Domestic Terminal

International Terminal (Air France)

Terminal Transfrontalier

Getting to and from the airport to Vancouver:

By car:
Access via Grant McConachie Way, Arthur Laing Bridge, and Granville St, roughly 25 minutes to reach city centre.
4 parking lots at the airport. Count around 8 CAD an hour and between 28 and 30 CAD per day.
Car rental agencies are located a short walk from the main terminal on the first level of the parking garage.

Taxi:
The taxi rank is located opposite the International Arrivals Hall on Level 2 (about 30 CAD for the journey to the city centre, which takes about 25 minutes).

Shuttles :
There are free shuttle buses to hotels located within the airport area.

Train:
Canada Line takes you to the city centre-in 26 minutes. The station is located between the domestic and international terminals. Tickets cost 8.75 CAD.

GETTING AROUND Vancouver

The city of Vancouver is large (115 km2) but the transport network is well developed. You can get everywhere by bus and neighbouring cities (Richmond, Burnaby, Surrey) are easily accessible by Skytrain or ferry.

By car

Holders of French car driving licenses are allowed to drive in Canada for a period of 90 days. After this time, you must have an international license.

Vancouver's road network is good. Though you do not need a car for sightseeing in the city centre, having a car simplifies your life if you want to explore the mountains and the surrounding communities: the farther you move away from the centre, the more public transport becomes limited.
Many parking lots are available all over town for about 4 CAD / hour.

Public transport: SkyTrain and bus

Translink operates the bus and SkyTrain (BTS). One ticket gives access to all modes of transport. It allows an unlimited number of transfers for 90 minutes from validation.
Single ticket: 2.75 CAD (zone 1); 4 CAD (Zone 2); 5.50 CAD (zone 3).
Preferably buy tickets in books of ten (21 CAD per book).
Tickets and books are on sale in supermarkets.

Taxi

Taxis are an affordable and efficient means of transport to Vancouver. You should generally count 2 CAD / km with 3.50 CAD on the metre to begin.

Bicycle

300 kilometres of bike paths criss-cross the region. You can rent bikes in many city agencies, including on Denman Street near Stanley Park. Warning: the use of helmets is mandatory.
You can plan your bike route: www.translink.ca

Ferry

SeaBus ferries make the connection between the centre and the north of Vancouver. They run all day and take 12 minutes to cross the Burrard Inlet from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay.

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Visitor information

Once in Vancouver, do not hesitate to connect with tourism professionals to advise you and organise your stay.

Medical information

Canada has socialised health care for citizens, but health care costs are high for foreign tourists (hospital rates CAD 1,000 – 2,000 CAD per day). It is advisable to take out health insurance before travelling.

LIST OF OBLIGATORY AND RECOMMENDED VACCINATIONS

No obligatory vaccinations.

AIR FRANCE VACCINATION CENTRE

For more information, contact your Air France centre for international vaccinations:

In Vancouver and across Canada, tipping is customary because service is not usually included in the bill. Allow 15 to 20% in restaurants and bars, 15% for taxis, a few dollars for porters and attendants… Not tipping would look very bad. Nevertheless, check that the amount payable does not include the service.